Detail of an astronaut on the façade of Salamanca cathedral included in the 1992 restoration

Mythology, legends and fun facts about monuments in Spain. Do you want to play? #SpainQuiz

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Are you ready to put your knowledge of Spain to the test?

We will ask you a series of questions and you can win the gold, silver or bronze medal depending on how many you get right. You can also share the result with your friends.

7Sooner or later, a journey in Madrid will pass by the Cibeles fountain, opposite the City Hall. As an interesting fact we can tell you that this is where the Real Madrid players celebrate when they win a trophy. Which animals pull the goddess’s chariot?

A: Two mythological animals

B: Two lions

C: A lion and a lioness

Correct! The animals on “La Cibeles” are in fact a lion and a lioness. They represent the mythological characters of Hippomenes and Atalanta. Legend has it that Atalanta, boasting nobody was faster than her, announced that she would only marry a man who could beat her in a race. Hippomenes managed to win and earn Atalanta’s love thanks to help from Aphrodite and a trick with golden apples. But later, the couple angered Zeus so he turned them into lions and condemned them to a lifetime of pulling Cybele’s carriage.

7The Alhambra was nominated as a New Wonder of the World. It is one of the most fascinating monuments in Spain, and has dazzled figures such as Washington Irving. It is the main attraction from the most beautiful viewing point in Granada: San Nicolás viewpoint. But, look at the following picture: do you know what its most famous patio is called?

Courtyard of the Lions, Alhambra, Granada

A: Courtyard of the Lions

B: Courtyard of the Wolves

C: Courtyard of the Leopards

Correct! It is called the Courtyard of the Lions because of its well-known central fountain. One of the most beautiful spots at the Alhambra.

7The World Heritage City of Salamanca is well worth a visit to discover its Plaza Mayor, its two Cathedrals or its University. But hang on a second... Why is there always someone examining the façade of the university and trying to find something? What are they looking for?

Detail of the façade of the University of Salamanca.

A: A frog figure

B: An astronaut figure

C: Answers about the origin of the universe

D: None of the above

Correct! According to tradition, students who want to easily pass their exams need to find the figure of a hidden frog on the façade of the university. This is not a joke. It's really there. Ah! There’s also a figure of an astronautbut, interestingly, you’ll find this one on the Cathedral.

7Although it might sound a bit strange, there is a heritage building in Spain that has a live cockerel and hen in a coop. Can you guess which one?

Cathedral of Santo Domingo de la Calzada

A: Royal Palace in Madrid

B: Alcázar of Segovia

C: Cathedral of Santo Domingo de la Calzada

D: An animal in a monument? Impossible

Correct! The Cathedral of Santo Domingo de la Calzada in La Rioja has a chicken coop inside that was constructed in the mid-15th century. It contains a live cockerel and hen to commemorate a miracle that is said to have occurred on the Camino de Santiago. Legend has it that a German couple and their son were doing the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela when they stopped in Santo Domingo and stayed in an inn. The daughter of the innkeeper fell in love with the boy, but when her feelings were not reciprocated she hid a silver cup in his luggage. The boy was accused of theft and condemned to the gallows. However, before leaving the parents realised their son was still alive and he said, “The blessed Santo Domingo de la Calzada has saved my life from the deathly rope. Believe in this miracle”. The parents went to tell this to the chief magistrate but he did not believe them. He told them ironically that the boy was as alive as the roast cockerel and hen they were going to eat. All of a sudden the birds came back to life. Hence the saying, “Santo Domingo de la Calzada, the hen that clucked after being roasted”.

7One of these three buildings operated as a hospital for centuries. Which one do you think it was?

Inner courtyard of the Reina Sofía National Art Museum, Madrid

A: Reina Sofía National Art Museum in Madrid

B: Torre Glòries, Barcelona

C: Bellver Castle in Palma

Correct! Before opening in 1990 as one of the most important museums in Spain (the Reina Sofía houses the famous Guernica by Picasso, for example), this incredible building had a very different past. In fact, it was founded in the 16th century and operated as a hospital until 1965.

7The incredibly famous Plaza de España in Seville was the setting for a film scene including three characters...

A: Princess Amidala, Anakin Skywalker and R2D2

B: Three of the Ghostbusters

C: Harry, Ron and Hermione

Correct! The Plaza de España de Sevilla was one of the settings chosen by George Lucas to film “Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones”.

7Walking around one city in Spain you can spot a statue of Woody Allen and another of Mafalda, the famous comic strip character. Do you know which one it is?

A: Barcelona

B: Oviedo

C: Santander

Correct! You can find the most famous character created by cartoonist Quino sitting on a bench looking at the pond in the Campo de San Francisco de Oviedo. And the statue of the famous film director can be found on Calle Milicias Nacionales. While staying in this Asturian city, Allen said, “Oviedo is delicious, exotic, beautiful, clean, pleasant, peaceful, and kind to pedestrians. It's as if it doesn't belong to this world, as if it could not possibly exist; Oviedo is like a fairy tale.”